Bless this beer

Home brewers may often think their latest creation is the result of divine inspiration; now one Milwaukee-based craft brewer is giving them the chance to make it official.

Lakefront Brewery will be hosting its 26th annual "Blessing of the Bock" on Sunday, March 23. The brewery is releasing a special bock-style beer for the event, available only at the brewery.

The brewery is also inviting home brewers to bring samples of their own brew to be blessed by Fr. Michael Bertram of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Milwaukee.

Source: Lakefront Brewery | Facebook

Bock-style beer is typically higher in nutritional and alcohol content than other beer styles. It has long been a spring staple, with a history of being used by German monks during the Lenten fast, explaining why some refer to the style as "liquid bread."

According to Lakefront Brewery representative John Zutz, the historical precedent behind the modern beer blessing ceremonies originated in the Middle Ages, when monasteries operated breweries, but did not yet know about the existence of yeast. Instead, they considered fermentation a miracle.

"At Lakefront, we understand the mechanics and the chemistry," said Zutz. "But we still celebrate the miracle."